Salem adjusts superintendent evaluation

SALEM — The School Board is refining its evaluation process for the superintendent with a process board members said should be more informative for the superintendent and the public.

As the board works on its annual evaluation of Superintendent Michael Delahanty, it is using a format that focuses more on a narrative review rather than a numbered rating system.

.“Traditionally, the board has used a quantitative evaluation tool in which members were asked to rate on a numerical scale a whole series of appraisal components,” said School Board Chairman Bernard Campbell. “The board has determined that it would be more appropriate to do a narrative evaluation, with the end product of the evaluation intended to be in more of a narrative form.”..Each board member is being asked to prepare an individual evaluation of the superintendent based on the primary components of board relations, leadership and managerial ability, school/staff relations, instruction, community relations, business and finance, and professional development...Campbell is asking that those evaluations be completed by Sunday. Campbell and Vice Chairman Patricia Corbett will then review the member reports and draft a master narrative evaluation report.

The board will then review that master report and once it is satisfied with it, Campbell and Corbett will meet with Delahanty to review the final report and discuss any potential contract changes...Delahanty said he has no issues with the change in the superintendent evaluation procedure.“We’ve put a lot of time into this,” said board member Peter Morgan, praising the efforts of Corbett for spearheading the changes. “I think we came out with something very reasonable and I hope it will be a lot more informative to the superintendent.”..aswift@newstote.com..